A major red tide event occurred in waters off Southern California in the spring of 2020, resulting in dazzling displays of bioluminescence along the coast. Now, for the first time, a study has pinpointed how the plankton species Lingulodinium polyedra -- a dinoflagellate -- was able to create such an exceptionally dense bloom. The answer lies in dinoflagellates' remarkable ability to swim, which lends them a competitive advantage over other species of phytoplankton.
A major red tide event occurred in waters off Southern California in the spring of 2020, resulting in dazzling displays of bioluminescence along the coast. The spectacle was caused by exceedingly high densities of,a plankton species renowned for its ability to emit a neon blue glow. While the red tide captured the public's attention and made global headlines, the event was also a harmful algal bloom.
Lucas and former graduate student Bofu Zheng led the work alongside several colleagues in the midst of the red tide event in April and May 2020. The researchers seized the opportunity to deploy sophisticated ocean instruments off the coast of San Diego, resulting in unprecedented measurements. The effort was made possible with funding provided by the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System through an award by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
Data and images collected by these instruments validated Eppley's original hypothesis, showing that indeeddescended at dusk, reaching a maximum depth of about 30-40 meters after 18 to 24 hours of swimming. While in the deep, the dinoflagellates would take up nitrate, which acts as a growth nutrient for plankton, before returning to the surface around noon to photosynthesize during maximum sunlight.
The researchers also looked at long-term ocean monitoring data captured by the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations , and long-term mooring data maintained by the Ocean Time-Series Group at Scripps Oceanography to see other consequences from the bloom.
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Study shows how historic red tide event of 2020 was fueled by plankton super swimmersA major red tide event occurred in waters off Southern California in the spring of 2020, resulting in dazzling displays of bioluminescence along the coast. The spectacle was caused by exceedingly high densities of Lingulodinium polyedra (L. polyedra), a plankton species renowned for its ability to emit a neon blue glow. While the red tide captured the public's attention and made global headlines, the event was also a harmful algal bloom.
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